Have you come across a Craigslist rental scam lately? Here are my tips to avoid Craigslist scams and real estate scams so that you can stay safe.
Over the past few weeks, we have been searching for the perfect rental home for us to move into, but sadly we have come across many Craigslist rental scams. We found many great homes, and actually signed a lease the other day on one (more information on that to come soon).
Even though we found a rental home, we came across many Craigslist scams and Craigslist rental scams firsthand. It led to us wondering “How do I avoid Craigslist rental scams?”
I only received around 10 emails back from potential landlords and three of those I knew were definitely scammers. There might have been others as well.
Due to this, I knew I had to create a post on the topic of rental scams for people who are looking for apartments and houses on Craigslist for rent.
You can find rental scams everywhere (Craigslist, Zillow, and more), and many people are duped every single day out of hundreds or sometimes thousands of dollars due to fake listings on this platform.
Interesting articles on Making Sense of Cents that you may want to read:
- 75+ Ways To Make Extra Money
- How To Live On One Income
- How I Paid Off $40,000 In Student Loan Debt in 7 Months
- 8 Things To Sell To Make Money
- 30 Ways To Save Money Each Month
How do Craigslist rental scams work? How do rental scams work on Craigslist?
There are cases where the person might not actually be a scammer, but you should be on high alert if you decide to continue through with a potential rental that you are unsure about.
Hopefully with my advice on renting on Craigslist tips below, you’ll be able to find a REAL rental.
Some scams that you may come across include:
- Craigslist rental scams
- Craigslist apartment scams
- Craigslist housing scams
- Craigslist vacation rental scams
- Fake house ads on Craigslist
- Rent to own scams on craigslist
If you’re wondering if Craigslist rentals are legit – yes, they are! But, you need to be careful. So, before you hand over a check, your credit card, or your driver’s license, please make sure that it is not a Craigslist home scammer that you are dealing with.
Below, you’ll learn how to spot a scammer on Craigslist.
Related: What You Need To Know About Renting A Room In Your House
What happens if you get scammed on Craigslist?
If you get scammed on Craigslist, they may be taking your rent money, security deposit, or even your personal information. Plus, they may waste your valuable time, and you may even be thinking that you are truly moving into the rental property.
This can be heartbreaking, and you definitely do not want this to happen to you.
How can you tell if someone is scamming you on Craigslist?
There are a few ways to tell if you are dealing with a Craigslist rental poster. Here’s how to spot a rental scammer on Craigslist.
1. The “landlord” is showing you the home, but do they actually own it?
One of the many Craigslist rental scams I have been hearing about a lot lately is when a scammer seems legitimate and even shows you around the rental. You might believe they are the landlord since they somehow got into the rental, but that isn’t always the case.
Sometimes scammers will break into a back window or even steal the key from the actual landlord so they can show the rental to unsuspecting potential tenants. This can be a huge disaster, as many people will believe the scammer since they are pretending to be the landlord.
Another Craigslist scam I have heard about that is related to this is when a renter moves into a home, pays the deposit, rent, etc., only to find out weeks or months later that the actual owner is at their door. The owner might have been on a long vacation or they might have just let the home sit vacant while trying to sell it, and thieves noticed their absence only to take advantage of the situation. This can be bad as you will have to vacate immediately and you will be out of money, such as the refundable deposit you may have given to the scammer.
My Craigslist rental search tip: Always make sure the person renting out the home is the owner or the property manager. There are many fake house ads on Craigslist. You can usually do a simple search on who owns the property by looking up city records. You also may be able to call the building’s manager (if there is one) and ask if the apartment is for rent and who is renting it.
2. A rental that seems too good to be true is often one of the many Craigslist rental scams.
This is how some rental scammers try to lure you in and an easy way to know how to spot a scammer on Craigslist. They will create a listing, make the rental sound amazing, offer it at a very low price, not require money upfront, many luxurious amenities for a low price, and so on.
Also, if it says something like smoking and pets are allowed, I would be a little cautious as well. I haven’t seen very many rentals that would just say that upfront unless they were really desperate for a renter.
This is a clue that you might be the victim of a Craigslist scam. If the landlord makes it too easy for you to live in their rental, then you need to be very careful. Scammers are often hoping that someone will be caught up in a “great deal” and come running to them with cash.
My rental search tip: Always do your research before you give anyone money. You should check other listings in the area to see if the rental is comparable and you should also see if the place is actually for rent. In most cases, it is not.
Here’s one Craigslist scam email I received (I actually received this response for two different rentals I inquired about):
3. A scammer wants your information or money before you view the home.
If you are asked to fill out a rental application before you view a home, then you might be in the middle of one of the many Craigslist rental scams. The scammer is hoping that you will give them personal information, such as your bank account number, social security number, or something else. They will then disappear once they receive all of this information. This is a bad situation because you basically just gave your identity away.
Also, if you are asked to give money before you are allowed to view a home or see the interior, then something is not right. This is most definitely a scam and you should avoid it. You should never have to pay loads of money in order to just view a home.
My rental search tip: You should always do your research, view the home, and more before you give out any extremely personal information. Occasionally, you may have to give your ID to the landlord, but other than that they should not need anything personal from you just to show you the rental house or apartment. Now, many times the Craigslist rental does for your email address, so that they can contact you. That is fine, simply be safe!
Here’s another Craigslist rental scam e-mail I received. This person sent me two e-mails so I just copied and pasted both e-mails into one so that you can easily read them both:
4. The landlord’s email has been compromised – Big Craigslist housing scams!
One scary Craigslist rental scam I recently heard about is when all of the information in a rental listing is correct. The home is actually for rent, the e-mail and phone number are real, and more.
However, when you e-mail the landlord you believe you are actually talking to them. It turns out that you are actually talking to someone who hacked into their e-mail. This can be a scary Craigslist scam as it can be hard to detect.
My rental search tip: Even though this Craigslist rental scam seems difficult, it can be easy to overcome. You should contact the landlord via the phone number that is listed on the real listing and talk to a real person. Then, you should verify everything that was discussed in the e-mails. Most of the time, landlords have no idea that their e-mail address was even hacked.
Related: Phone Scams: The Best Tips To Avoid Becoming A Victim
5. They give you a sob story.
Some rental scammers will give you a sob story in order to make you feel bad for them. But, think about it: why would a landlord need to tell you this at all in the first place?
It’s a business for them.
If they give you some sort of sad story, then it is most likely a scam. Lots of Craigslist rental scammers will give you a sob story such as having to move to take care of family, being forced to move due to the military, or something else.
Don’t believe it.
6. Lots of typos are a red flag
If the email or the paperwork has a lot of typos, then this is usually a sign that you are dealing with a Craigslist rental scam.
So, as you are reading their emails, the home rental application, and more, check to see if there are a lot of glaring mistakes. While the grammar and everything may not be perfect, if there are a lot of obvious errors then I would be a little cautious.
Frequently Asked Questions About Craigslist Rental Scams
Below are answers to common questions about Craigslist rental scams.
How do I verify a rental on Craigslist? How can you tell a scam on Craigslist?
You may be wondering “How do you know if a rental is legit?” or “How do I make sure a Craigslist rental is real?”
There are many different things to be aware of when looking for a rental online. Here are my general tips before falling for Craigslist housing scams or Craigslist apartment scams:
- Always make sure the person showing the home is the landlord or property manager.
- If a deal seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
- If the landlord is trying to push a lot of urgency your way, then I would be wary. For example, if they say that they need someone to move in tomorrow because they are flying overseas, and that’s why they have such a good deal, then they may be a con artist.
- Be careful with your personal information, so that you are not the victim of identity theft.
- If anyone ever asks you to wire money, you should not. Most scammers will ask for money to be wired and this should be your first red flag that something is not right. Keep in mind that if you wire money, you CANNOT get it back. Too many people think you can get wired money back.
- Does the listing and/or e-mail communication with the “landlord” have many misspellings? Does the e-mail refer to you as Sir or Madam? Do they say they are out of the country and cannot show you the home until you pay? Do they claim to be a missionary or a reverend? If any of these are true, then this is usually the sign of a scammer.
- Does the person never want to meet in person? If you never meet the landlord, then it is most likely a Craigslist rental listing scam. The landlord or their property manager will want to meet you, not avoid you.
- Do they only want you to peak through the windows in order to view the rental? This is a huge red flag if they never want to meet you and instead want you to only look through the windows. Legitimate landlords will want to meet you and rental ads that state otherwise are most likely fake.
- Does the Craigslist home for rent seem like a really great deal? If so, you may want to ask yourself why they are offering such a great deal. Real owners don’t think you are doing them a favor. Instead, they see it as a way to make money.
- Do they mention Western Union or receiving funds via money order? If so, then it may be a scam as scammers love to mention Western Union. You simply want to be careful if they ask for either of these.
- Are they letting you skip any type of background check? Sometimes there are credit checks, background checks, and so on. If it is too easy to get the rental, then it is probably a scam.
- Always trust your gut instinct as there are always other places to rent in the world.
As you can see, there are many ways to learn how to spot a rental scammer on Craigslist. There are many fake house ads on Craigslist, so you want to be careful.
Are Craigslist rentals legit? How do I know if a rental is legitimate?
Yes, Craigslist rentals cans be legitimate. I have personally found Craigslist houses to rent (and lived in it) through Craigslist.
Below, you will see how to tell if a Craigslist rental is legitimate or if it is a fake Craigslist ad, and how to spot red flags.
Are Craigslist rentals safe? Is renting from Craigslist safe?
Yes, Craigslist rentals can be safe. You simply need to follow the tips in this article so that you can stay away from Craigslist rental scams and find legitimate home rentals.
Why do people post fake rentals on Craigslist?
People post fake rental ads on Craigslist because they are scammers and are looking for easy money. Plus, some potential renters who may be looking for a new home may be a little desperate as well, because everyone needs a place to live in, of course.
Is it safe to rent a room from Craigslist?
Yes, it can be safe to rent a room from Craigslist. Follow the tips here, and make sure you get along with your potential future roommates.
You also want to be safe on Facebook Marketplace, and anywhere else where you may be looking at potential homes to rent.
What can a Craigslist scammer do with my phone number?
A scammer can use the phone number that you give them to scam others, through Google Voice. I recommend being careful with giving your phone number out.
Someone posted my house for rent on Craigslist, what do I do?
If you have a realtor or real estate agent and your house or condo are currently for sale, I highly recommend contacting them and seeing what you can do. This is because many times homes that are for sale will be listed for rent on Craigslist through a fake ad.
You should also report the fraudulent Craigslist ad to Craigslist. Doing this will help to curb Craigslist rental frauds and help anyone who may fall for the Craigslist rental scam.
You also will want to go to your local police department and attorney general to see what they can do for you as well.
How do I protect myself from Craigslist rental scams? How do I avoid getting scammed on Craigslist?
Don’t give money or any of your personal information (such as your bank account number, social security number, and so on) until you are 100% sure that it is a real rental on Craigslist.
Also, if the person requests money or your personal info from you before you even view the rental property, then I would be careful as well.
You will want to make sure you do your research before you give the person cashier’s checks, a PayPal account, or even Venmoing or sending a Zelle payment to them. Whatever way that they ask for payment, you simply want to be careful and spend your time to make sure that you are not dealing with a Craigslist scammer.
Unfortunately, there are many Craigslist rental scams on the internet which are scamming potential renters.
P.S. There are over 200 comments below (you may have to click “« Older Comments” to see all of them), and many of you have been sharing your Craigslist rental scam stories and screenshots of exact emails. This is a great way to learn how to catch a rental scammer on Craigslist. Let’s continue to help one another out, thank you!
How to spot Craigslist housing scams? How to spot a rental scammer on Craigslist?
I hope you enjoyed today’s article on how to find Craigslist rental scams. There are definitely many fake ads out there, but do not let a Craigslist scammer deter you. There are ways to learn how to avoid rental scams on Craigslist so that you don’t get scammed.
Instead, I recommend doing your research and being careful before you hand over money or start a wire transfer. You may want to ask locals about a specific rental property, search anything you can on Google to see if the rental pops up for you (such as if you can see any complaints for that specific address), reaching out to a property management company, and more. This is so that you can make sure you are talking to the true owner of the property or whoever works for them.
After all, you don’t want to give scam artists a security deposit, Moneygram, first month’s rent, application fee, cashier’s checks, Venmo, Zelle, or whatever else they want without some verification that it is all real.
And, if a landlord asks you to send over gift cards as a form of payment, it is most likely fake and you are dealing with a Craigslist scammer. I have never, never heard of a landlord asking for a gift card as payment. It can be easy to fall for a rental scam, especially in today’s rental market where there is no rental inventory, which can lead to a lot of desperation.
Also, please be careful and watch out for Craigslist sublet scams. You can use many of the same Craigslist rental scam tips above to avoid Craigslist sublet scams.
But, there are legitimate rentals on Craigslist, you simply need to be careful. This may mean making sure to meet the property owner face-to-face, doing some research on the contact information that you are given, and more before you give a personal check and last month’s rent.
I, personally, have found a home rental on Craigslist and it was a great home. You can find Craigslist apartment rentals, Craigslist house rentals, and more that are legitimate – you just have to be careful.
What Craigslist rental scams and Craigslist apartment scams have you seen or heard about? Have you wondered how Craigslist rental scams work? Have you ever been the victim of any type of scam?
Leave a Reply
wrote:
Thank for your email regarding my rental home. The home is still available for rent, located at 137 Temple Wood Ct, Las Vegas, NV 89148 I’m looking for a responsible tenant and neat person or family who can treat my property as his or her own. We request first month rent $1000 and $1000 security deposit fee before move in, also you can go by the home and check it out, and if you like the home then you can write me back or call me for more details I can be reached at (786) 463-3745
A bit about me…I have recently moved to Miami FL to pursue an exciting opportunity I have been given with my job. I work for the Walgreen Co. (Walgreens), with whom I have been employed for almost 17 years. I will be taking the role of District Operations Trainer for the Cleveland District, which stretches all the way through to some other state. It will be a challenge, but one I am very excited about. I support training on new computer system upgrades and on operational process enhancements. I serve as a resource for both Store and Pharmacy Managers to answer and train them on any operations process or change in our company systems. I also do soft skills training on points like basic leadership topics and customer service.
I just want you to get notice that the keys are here with me in Miami FL you can only view the home from the outside for now! If you drive by the home you may see a sign there, you have nothing to worry about it belongs to my previous agent so you have absolutely nothing to worry about and you don’t have to call them because they do not have access to the premises anymore!
I did not entrust the place in the care of any agent or anyone because I want to deal directly with the tenant myself because of the last experience I had with my tenant.
I tried to look for an agent that I could believe and trust to give the document & the keys before I left but could not find any as a matter of urgency. And I don’t want the place to be misused in my absence that is why I took the keys and documents along with me and renting this place will give you access to the rest of the property and you won’ t have no one to share anything with.
So I hope you will promise to take very good care of the property when you move in which is my main concern and I’ll love a tenant to landlord relationship between us this is why I want to handle this all by myself, whereby you and I can ask questions, get things done and build a good rental relationship, I want a scenario whereby my tenant and I can communicate as family and not strangers, hope you get my points?
Here is an question you need to answer for us to know you more better and use it to fill the original application form with us here in other to proceed on sending the keys and document to you, I’ll like to know few things about you and your family such as below
PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
Full Name__________________________________________________ Home Phone ( ) ________________________
Date of Birth_________________________________
Cell Phone ( ) ___________________
Current Address_______________________________Apt#________ City__________________ State______ Zip________
Reasons for Leaving____________________________Rent $__________Phone ( ) ____________________________
Are you married____________________________
How many people will be living in the house____________________________
Do you have a pet____________________________
Do you have a car____________________________
Occupation____________________________
Move In Date________________________How Long Did You Want To Stay________________________
Please have this in mind that you are talking to a very nice and good family, if you find any of our question inconvenience please don’t be offended but answer it because we want and like to know the kind of family that will be living in our house from day one so nothing from them will be strange to us again.
Thank you and Stay Blessed.
(786) 463-3745
ajan.bandan@aol.com> wrote:
Okay locate any wells fargo bank around you and make a cash deposit to my fiance account, her name Barbara Fields account # 1313955682, as soon as you make the cash deposit snapshot the wells fargo deposit slip and send it to me!
A copy what my scammer sent me today. I’m so pissed off that he’s going to do this to someone else!
My husband sent this reply: Ok great, I’ll go ahead and get that ready for you. I’ll just need to confirm that you are the owner of the home.
I’ll need you to put my name on the list with security at Rhodes Ranch so I can go check out the place, and I’ll need you to send me a copy of your ID.
My wife is a police officer and she can use your ID to confirm everything is in order.
Once we’ve done that I’ll deposit the funds in your account.
Thank you again, talk to you soon.
WOW! I was looking into temporary living in Aurora, and the email and form seems very similar to the one’s posted earlier on this forum. I think I’m going to pass on this.
———————
Hello Chris,
Thanks for your interest in the unit. However, if you are still interested, kindly find below the quote rate for the unit and also attached is the application form.
This is a 2 Bedroom + 2 Bathroom unit which sleeps with ease and convenience 6-8 people located in 11985 E Cornell Cir, Aurora, CO. The price of the rent is $1600 MONTHLY, which also covers for the utilities in the unit. You are to make a down payment of the rental fee of the first month plus a Security fee of $500 and $100 for cleaning which enables you reserve and secure the unit for your move-in date. The advance payment is required before arrival.
NOTE:- Security fee will be REFUNDED back to you. The Security fee is not applied towards rental fee, however it is fully REFUNDABLE on the day of your departure, provided the safety of all the amenities in the unit are met.
Amenities include:- Fully furnished living room, Central air conditioning, Wi-Fi internet access , Parking space available, High quality Linens, dishes, Flat Screen TV with Cable and DVD player, Fully equipped kitchen with dishwasher, refrigerator, microwave, ice maker etc.
QUOTATION
1 MONTH = $1600
SECURITY FEE = $500
CLEANING = $100
TOTAL AMOUNT = $2200
What is required of you to hold the unit is to make an advance payment of the first month rental fee ($1600) plus the Security fee of $500 which will be refunded back to you on your departure date, and $100 for cleaning.
Kindly fill the Application Form attached and get back to me with the filled out Application Form. I will review your application then give you a call afterwards. So we can proceed to the Agreement Rental Booking form to fill your reservation.
I will be looking forward to read back from you soon.
Thanks,
Hello, How are you Doing today, I hope fine, I am so glad you are Interested in my House, My Initial plan was to sell the House but I changed my Mind and Decided to rent it out, The Sale sign board will be removed from the House as soon as i get a tenant, The house is available for rent, so you are free to decide on how long you intend occupying it. Rent already includes utilities. You can go by the house and let me know what you think. The address of my house is 3907 E Liberty Ave, Spokane, WA 99217
I am a Very Busy Man and I have been transferred here for a contract.I’m spending 2 – 3 years here and am planning to buy another house over here. I want you to know that you will not be able to view the inside of the house as the keys are with me here in California. If you like the house we can now move forward on how to get keys sent across to you. I’m ready to accept either monthly or upfront mode of payment, depending on the one you are most Comfortable with. Utilities include: power, water, washer/dryer,sewer and trash.Your monthly rent already covers utilities so you do not have to pay extra charges for that. Pet are allowed as long as they are not destructive. The monthly rent is $770 while security deposit is $750.MORELLI, F JOHN
(734) 535-8914. Text only as I’m very busy and I can only call you back upon request
On May 21, 2017 7:33 AM, “Matthew Godwin” wrote:
Hello,
Thanks for your interest and inquiries about my house. Yes the house is still available for rent and we are looking for a responsible person/family to occupy and maintain the house now that we are not around. Myself and Wife just travelled to West Africa for a program called SERVING IN MISSION (SIM), you can view the link for more info: ().
We will be away for 2 to 3 years or more that is why I have made up my mind to put up my house for rent to whom ever that will take good care of it. However, my initial plan was to sell the house but it was not successful because the Realtor raised the price which made it difficult for me to sell before leaving the States so never mind if you see the for sale sign in front of the house, It has already been taken off the market as for sale so there is no need to contact any Realtor.
Also how long do you intend to stay? How soon do you intend to move in?
FEATURES : Laundry, Electric Range, Electric Heat, Master Bedroom, Playground, Car Park.
AMENITIES: Air Conditioning, Patio/Party Deck, Cable TV, Ceiling Fans, 24 hours Internet service, Dishwasher, Fireplace, Garbage Disposal, Microwave, security alarm, Pets Friendly, Refrigerator, Washer / Dryer.
Rental Price: $720 per month and security Deposit is $720(Security Deposit is Refundable) Utilities included in monthly rent
Pets are Welcome.
Below is the address to the house:
(3917 N Cincinnati St, Spokane, WA 99207)
Get back to me so i can forward you the rent questionnaire i would want you to fill out.
Regards.
Mr & Mrs Matthew Godwin
these are two responses to rental inquires that i received today in Spokañe, Wa.
and thîs îs ône of my replies
“So let me guess. We just send you the $ and you will send us the keys right?
I probably won’t contact the realtor but I sure will contact the police since it is illegal to place ads to rent something that does not belong to you.”
We *are* trying to rent rooms in our home, and *are* in another state. We got two text messages (unfortunately 4 days apart), claiming to be the parent of a student who was studying abroad, and asking us to email the student. The student is always a foreigner (German, Chinese), with one US parent, who will be paying their bills. They ask to see photos, know more about us, tell us a bit about them, etc. They want to know our info, so they can wire the money to us, even though we tell them we are NOT ready to rent to them yet, as we insist on speaking with them and their parent, doing some background checks, etc. However, it’s already too late. They now have the legitimate names, phones, out-of-state & local addresses, plus all our home photos to duplicate our listing and scam others. We got sucked in by the first “student” and only realized we were duped when the second “student” replied to our email with a too similar story. What a waste of time to have to search Craigslist for jerks who are trying to scam others for our rental listing.
Had this happen to me several times. BE AWARE 🙂
Common things I find with these scammers:
1. Email name does not match their signature name (email is Matthew, signature is Mathew. Email is Stephen, signature is Steven).
2. They don’t speak proper English
3. They insist they are living in a different country.
4. They insist on you dropping a security deposit before even viewing.
5. They never leave a phone number in their email signature.
6. They steal realtors/brokers identities. For example:
“The building is managed by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Send an email to jeffrey.gibson@sothebysagents.com quoting #75B4872-17 as your tenancy application number. He would proceed from there.”
However, after doing some digging, I find out Jeffrey’s REAL email is Jeffrey.Gibson@sothebyshomes.com. There’s no such thing as an email domain of @sothebysagents.com.
Here’s some more common wording from these scammers:
After going through all the tenancy applications we’ve received, yours and two other prospective tenants have shortlisted. However, I’m giving you an advantage over the two others to secure the unit ahead of them. I trust you will take good care of the unit during your stay. I assure you that from my own part, you will get the best of service and comfort during your stay. Owing to the high quality standard of service & comfort we render to our tenants during their stay in the apartment, our units are usually never vacant. 80% of old tenants do renew their lease while most new prospective tenants tend to secure units weeks before they become vacant. The unit is currently occupied which makes it unavailable for viewing now. The current tenant (who is relocating to another city to start a new job) lease would run out on the July 15th. This means that the unit will be available for viewing and move in from July 17th after repair works. Because of the high demand, rush and high competitiveness of the real estate market in this city, I’m giving you the opportunity to put a hold on the unit so it can be taken the market now and have it reserved in your name pending your arrival. To put a hold on the unit, you will be required to fill out the apartment lease reservation form with the real estate agencey responsible for the management of the apartment complex and make a down payment of only the first month rent and the security deposit. By doing this, you now have a hold on the unit pending your final decision of either move in or instant refund when you eventually arrive. If upon arrival you find that the unit is not in the same state as you had hoped and you decide not to continue with the lease, all your initial down payment will be fully refunded to you. This clause will be clearly stated in the lease booking contract of the apartment which is binding by the state’s rental laws. If you are fine with these my terms and would like to place a hold on the unit so as not to lose it, do let me know so I can provide you with the contact email address of the building managemnt to run you through the process by sending you the appropriate forms for you to fill out. Thanks once again for your time and understanding on this regard and I look forward to hearing from you soonest.
OR THIS ONE:
Good morning and thanks for your interest in my home, my fiancee and i are looking to lease my unit which is still very much available. I am a Geologist and my work can be quite tedious because it involves mineral researches, I’m an easy going person and also very friendly. I like music and have deep interests in traveling. I respect every religion and also love to hang around with people and i am definitely not a trouble maker and very helpful in nature. I just moved to Worland, Wyoming now due to my new research and also to be close to my fiancee as we are about getting married in few weeks time. The unit is located in a safe and secured neighborhood which i think is the most important thing for one to know before relocating. You are free to drive or walk by so you can tour the exterior of the building if you wish. Unit Address (711 E Denny Way, Seattle, WA 98122) Rent: $1550 Damage Deposit: $550. Only well behaved pets are welcomed, utilities included (Heat, Water, Electricity and Internet/Cable). The minimum lease term is 2 months, and a maximum of 1 years with also possibility of extension. I and my fiancee decided to handle the rental process ourselves due to our past experience with estate agents and tenant because all they care about is their own commission instead of taking time to verify applicants application and do a proper background check before leasing to such individual, the last tenant that rented from us through an estate agent destroyed most of our valuable home appliances. I know how much i spent to replace the things that was destroyed in the home, a whole lot of people have contacted me regarding the home but not just sure of who to accept due to the horrible experience we had with the last tenant. All we want is a very responsible, trustworthy and caring person that will take care of the home like his/her own and if you can assure me that the unit will be in good hands, i would be happy to let you rent from me for as long as you wish.
Fill out the rental application form below and send it back to me as soon as you can if you are really interested in renting my unit. As i will be happy to give you a call once this is done, because it is always best we speak over the phone..
*****RENTAL APPLICATION FORM****
(Private and Confidential)
FIRST NAME:
MIDDLE NAME:
LAST NAME:
(CELL)PHONE:
(OFFICE)PHONE:
BEST TIME TO CALL:
EMAIL:
KIDS : (YES/NO), HOW MANY :
PRESENT ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP CODE:
WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN:
HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING:
HOW MANY MONTH RENT ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY UPFRONT:
HOW SOON CAN YOU MAKE THE DEPOSIT FEES:
DO YOU HAVE PET :
KIND OF PETS:
HABITS:
DO YOU SMOKE :
DO YOU DRINK :
DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT:
REFERENCE……..
NAME:
ADDRESS:
Please make sure this questions are fill correctly because the best way you answer with your filled details will impress me the more to accept your application.
N:B: However, my initial plan was to sale out the unit which i tried but sometimes the agents inflates the price and it takes longer to sell. I am telling you this just in case if you find the unit on another website, that is the old advert. Because of this reason and more we need a rental agreement with a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money but want it to be clean and for you to take care of it as if it were yours. We would be looking forward to receiving your email as soon as possible.
Good evening and thanks for your mail and also with the warm response. I was in well receipt of your filled rental application form and i must confess that we both did find it very very satisfactory and believe you to be the best occupant for our home. Myself and my fiancee are very exited and willing to let you move into our home as soon as possible as we have concluded on accepting you to move in as soon as you are ready. So as we shall be renting our unit to you, please we want you to take very good care of the unit because i had spend a lot of money on the property so we might be glad when coming by sometime end of this year to see how neat you’ve been keeping the place. Hope everything about this process is fine with you? However, if you are ready to rent our home now that will not be a problem but i will advice you due to you are a responsible and reliable person, a refundable security deposit will be made before moving in and also i would like to send the following document to you via FedEx Courier Service to the address you’ve provided to me in the rental application form and the tracking number will be sent to you so that you can possible occupy our home immediately. Once again, we are giving you this based on trust and please do not disappoint us as we promise that you would love our home as i believe you must have seen how well organized and maintained it is from the pictures compared to the 100% comfort you would be deriving from it been an occupant. The package containing the (Keys, Documentations, Payment Receipt) will be delivered withing 24 hours to you as soon as you are ready to move in to the unit.
NB: I want you to know that we would be sending you the package via FedEx courier company as soon as you make the payments for the refundable deposit which is $550. Let me know If i could forward you the Information on how and where to send the money through any local Money Transfer outlet nearest to you, so i can get all the package sent to you immediately for your move in. Attached here is the soft copy of the tenancy lease and agreement form for your review as the hard copy comes along with the keys and documents which i would be posting over to your current home address..
These are a few examples. If the apartment is too good to be true, it probably is! Trust your gut and don’t give out personal info (:
This guy had 3 postings on padmapper. I didn’t give out much information thankfully, but it seemed legit, but I got the same exact e-mail you got about being on the application shortlist. Just wrote to him and told him I know he’s a scammer and that I’ve reported him
I was looking to see if the nightmare landlords we just got burned big time, young couple places ad for nice farm rural pole barn on 5 acres, with farm acres shared, cute little 2bd 1 bth, huge barn auto door, chicken pen, various fruit trees, garden, well, for 600$ a month, the thing is, we were in dire need to move right away escaping toxic black mold from previous landlord(slumlord). we had to wait 3 months, held up temporarily in tiny apt, that also had mold and leaked out every wall window and crack when raining, waiting for them to supposedly close on their new located home in Kentucky, I meet the wife, we attempt twice to get lease to print, her printer wouldn’t work so she sends it via my email. 2 days later, I call her husband to tell him where he wanted his rent sent too, we had already began moving our belongings into barn garage, since he was out of town, and claimed he had no account yet set up in kentucky to give it to his parents, we called them over, handed the rent plus security as per agreed, but, nobody has a receipt, so I found my checkbook cancelled the check wrote amount in cash, but they were very weird about signing it, finally got the mother, to grudgingly sign, that was when all my alarms went off about them, within 3 days, their ”friend” neighbor was over on our rented property spraying herbicide all around the future chicken pen, the well from where we’d be drinking, when I saw him he had already drenched those areas, I sent text to wife of landlord in knetucky asking for her to call asap, she blew me off, right then and there I sent her my 30 day notice due to them breaching no reciept offered for full payment of rent and deposit, plus neighbor being uninvited and certainly without notice spraying toxic chemicals around my rented space and food areas, then landlord asks us to allow his parents back again after all day of mowing, moving and no dinner yet, at 8pm so they could explain the lease, that went down like insane madness, the mother walked in my door, insulting, scolding telling me how things are going to be, I have no say so about the neighbor, or them having full reign whenever they wanted? her husband the father got so angry from me saying oh no you won’t, he pounded his fist so hard on the kitchen counter he literally bounced my dishes in dishwasher out of the racks and splattered my scent wax all over the counter, while his wife, the landlords mother was out accosting my husband with her phone having her son, our landlord telling us to leave!! insane? oh yes, $1200.00 later, within 3 days we had been poisoned, harassed, intimidated, bossed, bullied, and almost ripped off, not to mention they put in rental photos a really nice wood burner, with plenty of wood, within a week the dad was over trying to take it due to some insurance nonsense, I looked it up, and they were lying about that too, had I let that man take it? I think they’d had tried to blame us for the loss, that is what pissed em off the most, because they have not stopped banging on our front door, we had to change the locks due to me being home all week alone, while my husband drives a big truck all week OTR. so the message is clear, the kids get used to get the money making all these extravagant promises, leave for kentucky, leaving the unsuspecting new renters stuck with drunk crazy neighbors who have no respect for the living, and even came over and dumped their yard waste in our yard and claimed our landlords from kentucky said he could, we moved here for the no neighbor concept, no poison, can have chickens and pets the wood stave a plus because of the harsh winters, if you see an ad for Calamus Iowa, pole barn 2bd 1 bath, wood burner stove, acres to mow, as care taker? run, 1200.00 maybe a good deal, but the baggage they don’t tell you that you end up with, ain’t worth it, I have tried calling all forms of legal help and nothing but crickets in return for help. we are now out 1200bux, in one month having to move again because as soon as they got our money, they began trying to evict us, within 3 days of receipt. we are legally in the right and they legally cannot evict us, but hey, as southern blood says, we just won’t be staying where we ain’t welcome, the physical address is, 1721 265th street Calamus Iowa, trust me, unless you like being babysat, poisoned, ruled around, you may want to report it, they seem to take it down asa they get a bite, because the very next day after we looked at the place, it was gone!!
This is the scam email I just fell for on Craig’s list:
From Readyhouse69@gmail.com
Hello,
Sorry for not replying on time i want you to know it is still available for rent , I own the house, I intend to give the place out to someone or family who actually knows what it takes to care for one’s property, I do not have any Realtor or Management company responsible for the house that is why i am the one handling the process myself and from the address below you can go check out the house, I am from a Christian Family, Though i am passionate about this issues around homelessness and helping those experiencing it find sustainable solutions. I actually do volunteer work for a Faith Based Organization called heart support that aids in suicide awareness and provides free help for depression, addiction, and recovery. I have experience with suicide prevention activism as well; I was on the Farmington, Michigan suicide prevention task force, “S.A.F.E.” (Suicide Awareness For Everyone), for two years before moving to Missouri. I have also done lots of volunteer work, for example, I volunteered at a shelter called Our Fathers House. There I cared for the children as the parents attended classes and went on job hunts. I also have done some charity work in the past for Live out loud charity. It is a charity for suicide prevention charity around the world. I wanted to sell this House before leaving the state since i am presently in MISSOURI through impacting people’s life positively, So you should discard any for sale sign with number at the front of the house because it is no longer for sale and that is why i am taking out my time in looking for whom i can rent it to myself, It is vacant now i need a tenant to take up that responsibility of looking after the house in my absent like his or her own, Also i will be away for 4-6 years or more and this is why am actually renting it out so if you are still interested and will take good care of the house then i will be ready to rent the house for as long as you would want and will accept you as my tenant.
The house address is: 1812 N Grovedale Ave, Jackson, MI 49203
House details in summary: 3 beds 1.5 baths, Monthly rent of $700, Security Deposit of $600… PETS ARE WELCOME! All UTILITIES such as Air Conditioner Dishwasher Walk-in Closet Refrigerator, Water, Vaulted Ceilings Washer/Dryer Cable, Internet etc are all included in the rent. Get back to me if you are interested so i can forward you the RENT QUESTIONNAIRE.
Owner’s name: Mr. John Worsham
Fill out the questionnaire below so we can proceed further to the next step ASAP.
1)Your Full Name?
2)Your Full Address?
3)Cell Phone: Home Phone: & Work Phone?
4)Are you married?
5)Age & Email Address?
6)How many people will be living in the house?
7)Do you have a pet?
8)Do you have a car?
9)Occupation?
10)When will you like to move in?
11)How long are you willing to stay in the property?
12)References, Current Landlord Info, Job History and Income?
13)Do you smoke or drink?
14)Reasons why you want to rent my house?
15) How many months rent can you pay upfront?
16) Best time to call you?
17 Additional Information about yourself?
18) How Soon can you secure the house?
19) How much do you have at hand now, if you are told to secure the house today?
20) What else will you do in making my house better?.
I Look forward hearing back from you with the questionnaire filled.
I recently encountered a Craigslist scammer who claimed to be living in Indiana for two years, so renting out a room.
He made it sound too good to be true by claiming that he was renting a room, but the entire house would be mine because he was away for two years.
The scammer sent me the address and said I could drive by and look. I did a search for the address on Zillow, and found that the house was listed for rent by a legitimate managing firm.
I downloaded photos of the interior, and sent them to the scammer along with the interior photos he had sent me…I congratulated the scammer on the wonderful job he had done renovating the kitchen, which was totally different from the photo he sent.
Never heard from him again…
I knew this was too good to be true. Here is the email i received a couple days ago:Notice the name at the bottom says Roy Thomas, yet when i checked city records, the house is under the name of a female with a different last name.
Thanks for the interest in my House, my house is still available for rent and is located at (712 47th Way S, Birmingham, AL 35222). quite and safe. I only need someone that can take good care of the house in my absence because right now am not around i just secured a contract in ( Georgia ) here in United States, Am here with the house keys and documents, I tried to look for management before i left but i couldn’t get anyone on time but the one i got we had a deal and later my wife advised me against it, I reason with her and accept her advise. so i contacted the agent back and let her understand that i am no longer interested in her handling the property anymore then we decided to have the house for rent out by ourselves. We would have given the agent this job, but the truth of the matter is that agent would want to handle it professionally and the occupant might not be able to reason with her. If you notice, you will discover that the price we are offering is below the standard price this is enough for you to know that we are not after the rental fee but the absolute perfect care of the house. So if you have a good reference you can email me back to secure and occupy my house in my absence.
NB: You can go to check the neighborhood and get back to me for further discussion, any sign post will be remove once i get any responsible tenant so you ignore the sign post because i have stopped dealing and contacting the Realtor for too much fees i paid and the Realtor was trying to rip me off. It is available for a long term lease as we would be here for probably 5 years or more and we are also intending to buy a new house here in ( Georgia ). (Security deposit required) which is $500. I would need your References, Pets Acceptable. The rent fee is $500 per month including the utilities, Get back to me as soon as possible because i need a tenant urgently and i can also forward the application form to you if you are interested.
General house description:
Beautiful 2 Bd. 1 Ba. Quiet Cul-di-sac.Main Level: Spacious Family Room. Dining Room with Built-in Hutch. Open Kitchen with Lots of Cabinet Space. 1 Full Bath. Oversize Master Bedroom with Large Walk-in Closet. Basement. Main level laundry (washer & dryer included).
Best Regards
Roy Thomas
u guys my scammer is so sickening omg i can’t believe i almost fell for it. he’s scamming in Victoria, BC. Canada… a missionary i thought, but no, actually a therapist… I’m sick to my stomach, see for ur self….
“Hello ,
Thanks for your email and interest in the property. I personally own the property and also want you to know that it was due to my transfer that made me and my wife to leave the property and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean at the time and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own. So for now, We are here in United State, our new house and also with the keys and documents of the house, we try to look for an agent that we can give this documents before we left but could not see and we are as well as don’t want our property to be used any how in our present that is why we took it along with us. I and my wife came over to United State I WORK WITH ABUSED CHILDREN AND SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN.I,M A THERAPIST, so i hope you will promise us to take very good care of the house. kindly get back to me on how you could take care of our house or perhaps experience you have in renting home. The rent fee is included all the utilities . I am looking forward to hear from you ASAP so that i can forward you an application form to fill out and discuss on how to get the property for rent.
God bless you ”
sickening.
and then asked for money transfer with a address that lead to no where hahahahaha
wow….
i just can’t believe it
I recently submitted an online application for a house for rent. I was notified yesterday (approximately 2 weeks after submitting the app), that I was approved and that I would receive an email Docusign with the documents that I could sign online. A nice 3 bedroom home for only $500/month. Landlord pays all utilities. And…only $500 down, but that must be paid using a “MoneyPak” card that I could purchase. Once purchased, I was to notify the property agent (Susan Johnson) with the PIN. Needless to say, I didn’t fall for it.
Example of a scam in Victoria, BC, Canada:
Hello,
Thank you very much for taking your time to email me. l want you to know that the property you are writing me about is still available for move in but before we proceed any further l want you to know that the kind of tenant l am looking forward to have,clean,quiet,respectful and responsible someone that will treat the house with care and respect. l don’t need the partying type but if you can assure me of the safety of the house if i decided to accept you as my new tenant l will be happy to let you rent from me for as long as you wish.I want you to know am on the missionary assignment here with me and my family to United state .
The house is located in a safe and secured neighborhood which i think it is the most important thing for one to know before relocating. You are free to drive or walk by so you can tour the exterior of the building if you wish. Me and my wife decided to handle the rental process ourselves due to our past experience with estate agents and tenant because all they care about is their own commission instead of taking time to verify applicants application and do a proper background check, the last tenant that rented from us through an estate agent destroyed most of our valuable home appliances. I know how much me and my wife spent to replace the things that was destroyed in the house,a whole lot of people have contacted me regarding the house but not just sure of who to accept due to the horrible experience we had with the last tenant so i am really taking my time to look for a very responsible person
that we can trust in as a tenant, all i want is a very responsible person that will take care of the house like his/her own and if you can assure me of the house will be in good hands, i will be happy to let you rent from me for as long as you wish.
Fill the rental application form below and send it back to me as soon as you can if you are really interested in renting the house.
*****RENTAL APPLICATION FORM****
( Private and Confidential )
Fill below information correctly…
FIRST NAME:__________
MIDDLE NAME:__________
LAST NAME:__________
(CELL)PHONE__________
KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________
PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________
CITY: _______________
STATE:______________
ZIP CODE: ____________
WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________
HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? ____________
WHY ARE YOU LEAVING? _______________________________________________________________________
HOW MANY MONTH RENT ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY UPFRONT_________
HOW SOON CAN YOU MAKE THE DEPOSIT FEES_________
DO YOU HAVE PET _________
HABITS
DO YOU SMOKE ______________
DO YOU DRINK ______________
DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT _________
PICTURES OF OCCUPANT _____________
REFERENCE
NAME_____________
ADDRESS_____________
Applicant represents that all information given on this application is true and correct. Applicant hereby authorizes verification of all references and facts. l look forward to hearing from you once you have filled the rental application so that we can proceed with the rental process.
Thanks And God Bless You
Just got the same “missionary in the US” one here in Burnaby. And one in Richmond. Another one where the renter is claiming she is in the Philippines and renting out a place in Surrey. The common thread with all three is a suggestion I drive by the place to see the exterior of the house before continuing. I mean, what? Clear sign they don’t actually have the place to show/rent. Is mixed in with a lot of other info though, so could see how some people would fall for it.
So aggravating, wasting my time! And probably will scam some people. How can they be stopped?!
I replied to a CL ad and eventually rented a small “room” for $800/mo in West LA. For a normal-sized or larger room, this is a fair market price for the area. Since the deposit was half the rent, I made due with the square footage, at least until other red flags showed up. The room itself seems to have been built as an addition later than the original building, as it has 3 exterior walls and the solo interior wall shared with the other bedroom (wait for it)… with a DOOR in between, as if the room was built up from a balcony. A few months later when I learned the couple living in the other room were only paying $1100, it was clear that this situation was an “unbalanced split of rent” scam. 40% of the total for 20% of the space, and the lazy bum wife nesting in the living room for 16 hours of CNN every day, week, after month. I wish I could warn the next guy so somebody else doesn’t get hustled.
What a drag! Yeah 800 dollars/mo sounds about right. I’m in Long Beach and my rent just got jacked 300.00. You can’t find anything in LA County for a decent price unless it’s something rigged up like that. That’s how property owners are making their nut. It’s really sad.
What’s frustrating is that rental companies want you to make three times the rent. My rent is going to take up at least 40 percent of my income now….and I know that’s true for a lot of people. My income has been the same for the last 20 years, and I’m a unionized professional, college educated, bla bla.
But the economy is booming, they say…
Hi i understand what you’re trying to say but i can assure you that you’re safe with me. I’m a man of God and i don’t think i can do anything to harm you so please put your mind at rest . Here are couple pictures to make it clear to you.
Pablo
On Sat, Apr 14, 2018 at 11:50 AM, Peter wrote:
THanks for your response. Due to the high number of scammers on Craigslist pretending to be owners I wont be sending money to anyone out of state. I will require to meet the owner in person and see identification prior to any money being exchanged.
From: Angela Turner
Sent: Friday, April 13, 2018 8:05 PM
To:
Subject: Re: Hello I’m Pablo
Thanks for your interest in my apartment .The apartment is available for long term & short term lease is also acceptable. The building is in a great location situated in the quiet and safe area and offers secure access. internet, cable, laundry in-suite, storage facilities, heat, water, electric and parking are included in the rent
I tried to look for an agent that I could give the document & the keys before I left but could not find any as a matter of urgency. And I don’t want home misused in my absence that is why I took the keys and documents along with me. So I hope you will promise me to take very good care of the apartment always.
I have the keys and the apartment documents here with me and I will be shipping it to you through DHL courier service after processing your application form. Attached are the interior pictures and if you like it and willing to proceed with the rental. I will like you to fill the form below and email it back to me asap for processing.
RENTAL APPLICATION FORM
FIRST NAME:__________
MIDDLE NAME:__________
LAST NAME:__________
(CELL)PHONE__________
(HOME)PHONE__________
KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________
PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________
CITY: _______________
STATE:______________
ZIP CODE: ____________
WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________
HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? ____________
HOW MANY MONTH RENT ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY UPFRONT_________
DO YOU HAVE PET _________
KIND OF PETS: _____________
HABITS
DO YOU SMOKE ______________
DO YOU DRINK ______________
DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT _________
REFERENCE
NAME_____________
ADDRESS_____________
Payment will be through walmart to walmart and the keys will be shipped to immediately payment has been confirmed.
Once i receive the filled copy of the rental application form, I will make an arrangement on how to get the apartment keys and documents shipped to you through DHL courier service without any further delay.
I await your swift response.
My # (323)-510-7132
Regards
Pablo
On Fri, Apr 13, 2018 at 8:38 PM, wrote:
Hello Pablo,
I’m a little confused, the address you gave me is for a house. But you mention an apartment?
I am clean, have no pets…
I’m looking to Stay 30 days and Possibly much longer if the location works out. I’m looking for a place ASAP
Thanks
Peter
From: Angela Turner
Sent: Friday, April 13, 2018 7:20 PMTo:
Subject: Hello I’m Pablo
Thanks for showing interest in my place.I’m Pablo. The apartment will be available for as long as you are willing to rent. my wife is disabled and I currently relocated back to our other house with my family in Virginia that’s why the apartment is vacant. Moreover, are you very clean,kind and easygoing? because my wife and I spent a lot on our property, so we want someone who can take care of the apartment,i am looking to rent this unit out,long and short term is allowed.
1416 62ND St, Sacramento, CA 95819
The room is Available for immediate move in. Its a Modern 1 bedroom & 1 bathroom and a large living room apartment, you will have access to the rest of the amenities in the apartment which includes dish washer with in-suite laundry room and plenty of storage space and parking space . Professional and mature neighbors ensure peaceful living arrangements.well behaved pets are allowed
I will like you to drive by to the building today to view the exterior of the building for you to know where the apartment is located,i am not available to meet with you for viewing as i am out of the state,when you check out the exterior,kindly get back to me so that I can forward you the full interior pictures and application form then we can proceed to how the keys will be delivered to you…
Thanks for taking your time in writing me and hope to hear back from you.
Regards
Pablo